Envelop-fastener.



Patented Oct. l6, I900.

Nu. ss ms.

W. BABNARD.

ENVELDP FASTENER.

(Application filed Fob. 3Q, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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time 'ra'rns IVILLIAM BARNARD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENVELOP-FASTENER.

SIEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,806, dated October16, 1900. Application filed February 16, 1900. Serial No. 5,467. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM BARNARD, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia andState of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Envelop-Fasteners, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement inenvelop-fasteners, and has for one object to provide afastener whichwill l satisfactorily hold an envelop closed, but at the same timeallowing the envelop to be quickly and readily opened for the purpose ofinspecting the contents by the postal authorities, if desired, and toagain close the envelop, as before.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fastener so durable inconstruction and simple in operation that it will be a very desirablefastener for envelops used for filing, such as those generally used forlegal documents.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and thenspecifically designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, the constructionand operation will now be described in detail, referring to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichFigure 1 is a rear elevation of an envelop, showing the flap fasteneddown; Fig. 2, a rear elevation showing the flap raised; Fig. 3, alongitudinal section through Fig. 1; and Fig. 4:, a view similar to Fig.2, showing a piece for reinforcing the wearing parts of the fasteningdevice.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, A represents the envelop,and B the flap thereof.

0 is a thin oblong piece of stiffened material, such as cardboard, or,if desired, thin sheet metal, and this piece C is secured to the body ofthe envelop by any suitable pivot, shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 as aneyelet D and in Fig. 4 as a rivet E. This eyelet or rivet is clenchedinside of the body of the envelop and passes through the overlappingedges of the body for fastening the said edges and also through thepiece C and is also clenched on top of said piece 0. This stiffenedpiece 0 forms a button or fastener and is adapted to revolve upon therivet E or eyelet D.

Formed in the flapB is a slot F. This slot is of the same generaloutline as the fastener C, but slightly larger, so that when the flapBis bent over this slot F will register with and allow the fastener O topass therethrough. Then the said fastener can be turned crosswise of theslot, thus holding the flap down, and thereby closing the envelop. Ofcourse this slot F can be formed longitudinally with the envelop or, infact,-in any position, it be ing only necessary to turn the fastener Cso that it will register and pass through the slot.

The fastener C may be formed in any desired shape, the only requirementbeing that when said fastener is rotated upon its pivotal point after ithas passed through the slot it will engage the flap upon both sides ofthe slot.

In using this fastener for filing-envelope or for envelops that arerequired to be opened and closed a number of times it can be renderedmore durable by reinforcing at G the slot F and the portion of theenvelop where the eyelet or rivet passes through, as indicated at G inFig. 4c. This reinforcement may consist in simply doubling the materialof the envelop at that point or securing or pasting cloth or otherdurable material around these parts, and thus prolonging the life of thefastener.

The ad vantages of my fastener are its cheapness and simplicity ofconstruction, that it can be opened and closed very readily, and that inpassing through the mails it has no points to catch or mutilate otherinaiLmatter, and while being neat and attractive in appearance it is sodurable that the envelop can be opened and closed frequently withoutdestroying the said fastening device.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and usefulis-- In combination with an envelop and its flap provided with anapproximately-oblong open ing, a button formed of a thin piece ofstiffening material, an eyelet passed through the button and overlappingedges of the body of the envelop and clenched to form a pivot and afastening means for the edges of the body, I In Witness whereof I havehereunto affixed a reinforcing-strip secured on the under surmysignature in the presence of two subscribface of the flap around theopening and a ing witnesses.

second reinforcing-strip on the surface of that portion of the body ofthe envelop Where the eyelet or pivot passes through, as and for thepurpose set forth;

WILLIAM BARNARD.

Witnesses:

MARY E. HAMER, N. N. SCHOFIELD.

